Welwyn Garden City beat Ware 5-4 in Southern League thriller

It was the Citizens who came out on top in the Division One Central clash, winning 5-4 in a match that had absolutely everything.

Three times did the home side have the lead, twice with a two-goal margin but they needed a winner seven minutes from time to finally put Ware to bed.

The result leaves them 11th in the standings but catapulted them to top of the form table, this being their fifth win in the last six outings.

Cyrus Babaie goes round the keeper to net his second against Ware. Picture: LINDA BABAIE (Image: Linda Babaie)

Few would dispute that the Citizens were the better side for the majority of the 90 minutes and could have been off to a sensational start, but Bailey Stevenson scuffed his shot when through in the opening minute.

A second chance saw Stevenson scamper away down the right but this time his low, hard cross just evaded both Dernell Wynter and Cyrus Babaie coming to meet it.

More good work from the restored Alex Harris and Stevenson, set up what looked like a certain opener for Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo, but Ware’s on loan keeper Sam Bentley pulled off a fine, close range save to keep it at 0-0.

The expected goal finally arrived midway through the opening half, before a second followed three minutes later.

First Stevenson played Babaie clean through down the middle and he slotted his effort past Bentley for 1-0 and then he went clear again, finishing with similar aplomb.

Ware didn’t show their attacking teeth until four minutes from the break, when both James Kaloczi and Soulya-Osekanongo failed to clear an attack and Jack Dreyer stepped in with a rising effort that home keeper Charlie Crowley did well to claw past the upright.

Jon Clements (right) scored on his return to Welwyn Garden City with Ware. Picture: LINDA BABAIE (Image: Linda Babaie)

Their teeth were on show again five minutes after the interval with much more success, although this did fall into the Christmas gift category.

Crowley pushed a left-wing cross away and the ball fell between himself and recalled full-back Ryan Kirwan.

Both hesitated to clear and Jon Clements, one of three ex-Citizens in the Ware line-up, nipped in between them and rolled the ball home for the simplest of goals.

Within moments though, WGC had restored their two-goal advantage, a trip on Stevenson just inside the area bringing the spot-kick and Wynter did the rest.

Dernell Wynter scored twice for Welwyn, including a penalty. Picture: LINDA BABAIE (Image: Linda Babaie)

But just like Welwyn had in the first period, so Ware managed to grab two in a couple of minutes midway through the half.

Soulya-Osekanongo gave the ball away just outside his own area for the first, allowing Liam Dulson to cross to the back post for Ekow Coker to head home.

Then a low cross from Stefanos Georgiou skewed past several home defenders and Dulson tapped home for 3-3.

Goal number seven of the game arrived four minutes later and it was Welwyn who went back in front, Wynter heading in off the far post after a Jack Vasey free-kick was floated into the box.

This particular lead lasted just five minutes as Ware went level again from the penalty spot, Soulya-Osekanongo with the foul and Dulson getting his second.

Manager Weatherstone immediately replaced Stevenson with Henry Jones and it proved a masterstroke as with seven minutes left, Babaie picked up the ball on the left, cut inside his man and crashed a shot goalward.

Bentley, on dual registration from St Albans City, pushed it away but only to the waiting substitute and he lifted it back in over the keeper to restore WGC’s lead for a final time.

They go to Waltham Abbey on Wednesday, December 27 before returning to the Pexhurst Stadium, Herns Lane, on New Year's Day to face Hadley.

WGC: Crowley, Harris, Kaloczi, Olagunju, Kirwan, Vasey, Soulya-Osekanongo, Wadkins, Stevenson (Jones 77), Wynter, Babaie.

Subs (not used): Baker, Brown, Jordan, Bryant.